Mandolin-cithern.



No. 65|,l95. Patented lune 5, |900'.

F. MENZENHAUEB.

MANDOLIN CITHERN.

, (Application fll ed Jan. 13, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented june 5, I900. F. MENZENHAUER. V

MANDOLIN CITHERN.

( Application filed Jan. 13, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

IN VENTOH A77" EYS.

H W/ TN E 885 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK MENZENHAUER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MENZENHAUER & SCHMIDT, OF SAME FLAOE.

MANDOLIN-CITHERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,195, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed January 13, 1899, Serial No. 702,019. (No model.)

and State of New Jersey, have invented cer-.

tain new and useful Improvements in Mandolin-Oitherns, of which the followingis a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in citherns or similar stringed instruments the strings of which are sounded by means of picks, so that a tremolo 'or mandolin effect is produced, the picks being actuated by means of keys depressed by the fingers of one hand, while the other-hand or a separate motor produces the power necessary to vibrate or rapidly reciprocate the entire pick-carrier, so that a tremolo or mandolin effect of the strings is produced.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top viewof myimproved mandolin-cithern. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on line 2 2, Fig. 1, drawn on alarger scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 3 3, Fig. 1,drawn on a still larger scale. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section on line 4 4, Fig. 5, showing a portion of the mechanism for reciprocating the pick-carrier by hand. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 5 5, Fig. at; and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a detail vertical central section and a bottom view of one of the pickblocks.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the sounding-board, B the bottom, and O the outer strips, of the body of my improved cithern. The strings S are stretched in the usual manner over the scale-ribs r r, the scale-rib 1' being at the front end of the instrument and the scale-rib 9" extending near the opposite or inclined end of the instru- The front ends of the strings are atment.

tached below the scale-rib r to pins 8, while the opposite ends of the strings after passing the straining-pins s 011 the scale-rib r are applied to tuning-pins .9 These parts may be arranged in any of the well-known ways, and the instrument may be of any desired form or size. Across the front portion of the instrument and transversely to the strings is arranged a stationary keyboard D, which is supported at its ends beyond thestrings on strips 6?, attached to the body of the instrument, and at its sides by longitudinal side walls d. The keyboard D has a number of holes in which are located keys D, having flanges 7.: at their lower ends, said keys being preferably arranged in two rows vertically above the strings S. Below the keyboard is arranged a longitudinally reciprocating pick-carrier E, which is supported above thestrings on antifriction-rollers e, one at each end of said carrier, said antifrictionrollers being supported on the soundingboard and provided at portions of their length with sound-deadening tires 6, of felt or other soft or elastic material. The motion of the antifriction-rollers e e is limited by cushions 01' and stop-pins d driven into the sounding-board, as shown in Fig. 2. Between the sides of the pick-carrierE and the adjacent side walls 01, supporting the keyboard are interposed strips 01 of felt or other suitable material, which are preferably attached to the side walls cl, so as to prevent any noise that may be caused by the reciprocating motion of the pick-carrier. The pick-carrier E is provided with a number of perforations, one below each key D, in which perforations are arranged Verticallymovable pick-blocks 6 which carry at their lower ends shanks or picks c of steel, horn, hard rubber, or other suitable material, said picks extending through slots in the sheetmetal bottom plate a at the under side of the pick-carrier to a point just above the level of the strings. Each pick-block e is supported by a helical spring a, which is interposed between the bottom of the block and the plate a. The top of each pick-block is normally below the level of the upper surface of the pick-carrier and is provided with two parallel ears e, which serve to guide an antifrictionball 6 upon which rests the lower end of the key D, which is located above the pick-block.

The distance between the upper surface of the pick-carrier E and the bottom surface of the key D is less than the diameter of the antifriction-balls 6 so that the latter cannot escape from the recesses in the heads of, the pick -blocks even when the instrument is placed in inclined or other position orjarred. The springs c of the pick-blocks serve to return the key-blocks and the keys into raised position after each depression and to retain them in this position, the upward movement of the keys D being limited by their bottom flanges 7c.

The picks are attached centrally to the under side of the pick-blocks e in such a manner that their fiat sides are located parallel with the strings. The relative position of the picks-to the strings S can be accurately adjusted so as to cause the even picking of the same even after the instrument has been in use for some time, by a set-screw 0, the shank of which is screwed into the pick-block at a slight inclination toward the pick, so that the latter can be bent more or less by the head of the screw, according as the same is screwed in more or less. This adjusting-screw forms an important feature of the present construction, as thereby the ready and reliable responding of the strings to the picks is sooured when the instrument is first prepared for use, as well as when the same has been in use for some time and the picks require readjustment.

To the pickcarrier E is imparted a quick longitudinallyreciprocating motion, either by a handcrank, intermediate gearing, and a connecting-rod, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or by a spring or other motor M, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The hand-operated mechanism consists of a friction-wheel b', the shaft Z) of which is journaled in the block d and the keyboard D and which is turned by a crank b applied to its square projecting end. To the block d is pivoted at one end a link 0, which carries at its opposite end a smaller friction-wheel l), which like the friction-wheel b is provided with a rubber or other frictional tire. To the projecting tongue b of the link 0 is attached a helical spring 19 which is secured at its opposite end to the block d and which serves to keep the friction-wheel b in contact with the friction-wheel b. A connecting-rod b is pivoted at one end to the pickcarrier E and at its opposite end to a wristpin Z1 on the smaller friction-wheel 17 It is obvious, however, that in place of the friction-wheels gear-wheel or any other motiontransnlitting mechanism may be employed. The motor M consists of a powerspring, a train of transmitting gear-wheels, a speedregulating fly, and a connecting-rod by which the last pinion of the train is connected with the pick-carrier. These parts, with the exception of the spring, are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The operation of playing my improved cithern will be readily understood from the drawings and the foregoing description. The mechanism for reciprocating the pickcarrier is preferably located at the left hand of the instrument. In this case the crank is turned by the left hand at a speed to produce the reciprocation of the pick carrier at the proper speed. Each key is preferably numbered on the exposed upper surface or lettered to indicate the string or strings which will be sounded when a key or keys are depressed during the motion of the pick-carrier. The ears 6 of the pick-blocks e are arranged at right angles to the plane of the picks, so that when the pick-carrier is reciprocated the antifriction-balls e rolling between the ears, have a tendency to keep them in the same direction as the pick-carrier, so that the picks are located with their flat sides toward the strings and bent as they engage them on the depression of the keys, so that the clear sound ing of the strings is produced. It is expressly understood that the keyboard D carries a key for each pick-block, and as many of the latter are employed as there are strings S. One pickblock serves, however, to pick only one par ticular string and no other, and the stroke or throw given by the actuating mechanism to the pick-carrier is arranged accordinglythat is, when akey is pressed to move the corresponding pick-block into a lowermost active position then during the full stroke of the carrier in either direction only the corresponding string for the pressed key and pick-block is sounded. It is further understood that the under surface of the keys D is made sufficiently wide that it remains at all times indirect contact with the pick-block during the latters travel with the pick-carrier, so that the pick-block is moved into active position whenever the corresponding key is pressed and no matter in what part of the stroke the pick-carrier is in at the time. Ordinarily the speed of the pick-carrier will be such that the strings will be sounded two or three times before the key is released, so that a continuous tremolo or a mandolin effect is produced as the piece of music is played. By turning the handle at varying speeds a varying degree of tremolo is obtained.

YVhen a motor for reciprocating the pickcarrier is used, the motor-spring is wound up by a key applied to the arbor of the spring and the'motor then started, so as to reciprocate the pick-carrier. The keys are depressed according to the piece to be played, so as to sound the strings, which, being repeatedly sounded in connection with the reciprocating. pick-carrier, produce a tremolo or mandolin effect in playing. Besides the advantage of the uniform tremolo effect obtained both hands are free when a separate source of power is employed and may be used for depressing the keys, thus vastly increasing the number of strings which it is possible for the player to pick simultaneously.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A stringed musical instrument, provided with a keyboard extending across the strings and having keys, a pick-carrier mounted to reciprocate across the strings, pick-blocks mounted on the said pick-carrier and standing normally above the strings and direct-1y under and in direct contact with the keys of the keyboard, so that on pressing a key the corresponding pick-block is moved into a lowermost active position relatively to its string, and a mechanism for imparting a reciprocating movement to the said pick-board, to cause the active pick-block to sound its string, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the strings of a cithern or similar stringed instrument, of a keyboard extending across the strings and provided with perforations arranged relatively to the same, keys in said perforations, a pickcarrier guided below the keyboard and provided with perforations below the perforations of the same, spring-actuated pick-blocks located in the perforations of the pick-carrier, picks carried by said pick-blocks and extending to a point above the strings, antifrictionballs between the keys and pick-blocks, and means for reciprocating the pick'carrier, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the strings of a cithern or similar stringed instrument, of a perforated keyboard extending transversely of the strings, keys located in the perforations of the keyboard, a reciprocating pick-carrier, spring-actuated pick-blocks located in holes of said carrier, picks in said blocks, means for adjusting the picks relatively to the strings, and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the pick-carrier, substantially as set forth. 4. The combination, with the strings of a cithern or similar stringed instrument, of a keyboard extending across the strings, keys guided in holes of said keyboard, a pick-carrier below said keyboard, spring actuated picks guided in holes of said carrier below the keys, and a motor for reciprocating said pickcarrier while the keys are depressed for sounding the strings, substantially as set forth.

' 5. In a cithern or other stringed instrument, a pick-block, provided at its under side with a pick, and means for laterally adjusting said pick relatively to said block, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cithern or other stringed instrument, a pick-block, provided with a pick at the under side, and a set-screw adjacent thereto for adjusting the position of the pick, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK MENZENIIAUER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, M. HENRY WURTZEL. 

